CELEBRITY
Mbappe, Lineker, prominent football figures pay Pele tributes after movement to ‘end-of-life’ care
Prominent members of the footballing world have flocked to send tributes to Pele after the Brazil legend was moved to palliative care.
Pele, 82, is receiving end-of-life care in hospital in Sao Paulo after he stopped responding to chemotherapy treatment for his bowel cancer. He was admitted to the Albert Einstein Hospital on Tuesday after suffering with symptoms of ‘general swelling’ and ‘heart failure’.
Doctors subsequently released a statement confirming Pele had a respiratory infection which required antibiotics but insisted he was in a stable condition. The former striker, the only player to win the World Cup three times, also posted an encouraging update, but things appear to have deteriorated towards the end of the week.
Folha de Sao Paulo reported on Saturday that Pele has become unresponsive to chemotherapy treatment, which he has been undergoing for many months to tackle cancer. Further, he has been taken to a ward for those battling life-threatening illnesses or who require end-of-life care.
In response to the sad update, former England striker and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker took to Twitter to write in Portuguese, “very sad news”. Elsewhere, France talisman Kylian Mbappe said, “Pray for the King.”
While receiving pain-relief medication in Albert Einstein Hospital, Pele is believed to be accompanied at his bedside by his carer and his wife, Marcia Aoki
While Pele has been unwell for many years, news of this latest upsetting development will come as a surprise after he posted a reassuring update just one day earlier. In response to a “Get well soon” message which lit up a skyscraper in Qatar, where the World Cup is being contested, he wrote on Instagram : “Friends, I am at the hospital making my monthly visit. It’s always nice to receive positive messages like this.
Thanks to Qatar for this tribute, and to everyone who sends me good vibes!”
Further, Pele’s daughter, Kely Nascimento, who is not in Brazil, also declared that her father’s trip to hospital should not cause alarm. She wrote: “Lots of alarm in the media today concerning my dad’s health.
“He is in the hospital regulating medication. There is no emergency or new dire prediction. I will be there for New Year’s and promise to post some pictures.”
Pele’s former club Santos also took to Twitter on Saturday, writing: “It’s the whole world wishing you well, King.” The global icon played for the Brazilian giants between 1956 and 1974 before a brief stint with New York Cosmos, and Santos maintain he scored nearly 1,000 goals.
Pele’s official tally stands at 757 goals in 831 games, while he enjoyed World Cup triumphs with Brazil in 1958, when he was just 17 years old, 1962 and 1970. Many regard the prolific former frontman as the greatest footballer of all time and his influence in his homeland is enormous even in his old age.
-Mirror
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo crossed one billion followers across his social media accounts, aided by his newly-launched YouTube channel that has attracted more than 60 million subscribers in just over three weeks.
Ronaldo, who scored his 900th career goal last week to help Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in the Nations League, is the first human being to reach a billion followers on social media, global media reports said.
“We’ve made history, one billion followers! This is more than just a number, it’s a testament to our shared passion, drive, and love for the game and beyond,” Ronaldo posted on X.
“You’ve been with me every step of the way, through all the highs and the lows. This journey is our journey… thank you for believing in me, for your support, and for being part of my life.”
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid player reached the milestone with over 639 million followers on Instagram, 170 million on Facebook and 113 million on X.
The 39-year-old topped Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes this year, with off-field earnings of $60 million, boosted by his large social media following.
Ronaldo’s club Al-Nassr will host Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.
-Reuters
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo launched his YouTube channel on Wednesday and hundreds of thousands of subscribers signed up within a couple of hours.
The 39-year-old five-times Ballon D’Or winner plays for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.
“The wait is over. My @YouTube channel is finally here! SIUUUbscribe and join me on this new journey,” Ronaldo posted on his social media accounts.
A couple of hours after posting his first video, 1.69M subscribers had joined he channel.
Ronaldo has 112.5 million followers on the X platform, 170 million on Facebook and 636 million on Instagram.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United player is preparing for his team’s Saudi Pro League opener against Al-Raed on Thursday.
-Reuters
Inter Miami will be the last club Argentina captain Lionel Messi plays for, the 36-year-old forward said on Wednesday, adding he feels “a little bit scared” at the thought of the day he decides to retire.
Messi, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, has a contract with the Major League Soccer side until 2025 following his arrival last summer after a spell with French champions Paris St Germain.
“Inter Miami will be my last club. I love playing football. I enjoy everything even more because I am aware that there is less and less left,” Messi told ESPN.
“I’m not ready to leave football. I’ve done this all my life, I love playing football, I enjoy training, the day-to-day, the matches… And yes, there’s always a little bit of fear that it’s all over.”
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is preparing with his national team to defend their Copa America title, with the tournament kicking off on June 20 in the United States.
Argentina will take on Canada in the opening match before facing Group A rivals Chile on June 25 and Peru four days later.
-Reuters
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